I will be back next year!

It's been a long and somewhat disappointing year for us here on the homestead, but we are still learning and taking things day by day.  There is so much to learn and do and with a large family that some days can become a bit overwhelming, but we always make it through. We have lost quite a few chicks to a nasty weasel that I have yet been able to catch, we have a large family of deer that have made our back wooded area their home and although I love watching them graze in our fields during the evening hours, I am dreading the amount of extra work we will have next spring when we plant our garden. We have purchased two large black piglets to raise for next years meat, and are raising turkeys currently to fill our freezer. Last month we were graciously given some spent hens and a loving rooster from a farmer down the road, and our mechanic also gave us nine young hens that where laying with their coop, so we have farm fresh eggs each morning. 
As for the weather, well it has been very unpredictable. Rain and wind, a few flurries then Spring like temperatures, it seems no matter what the weather channel predicts it changes day by day and I have grass growing in our old rabbit coop in December!  With all this climate change I am expecting that before Spring we should have a deep freeze but that is alright as we are well prepared.  The only thing I do fear is that with the unpredictable weather we will have a drought in 2016 and I just cannot have another failed crop year.
Now as we approach the end of December we are still awaiting the arrival of our ninth child, who has decided not to rush into the world as quickly as the others. I have become quite tired the past couple months and now with only two days left until I hit 40 weeks I am experiencing lots of back pain and just don't have that get up and go that I usually have. I was lucky enough to get my Christmas shopping completed early, but I just haven't been able to bring myself to decorate like I would like to and my baking has almost come to a complete stop as I just don't have the energy.  I am over excited to find out if this little one will be a boy or girl and eager to be able to move around again without looking like I am one of our Muscovy Ducks. 
With so much planning and prepping ahead I hope to share even more experiences and life lessons with you all in the New Year!
~Jenn~